Capacitors

Why do you use a capacitor? what is it good for? And do you realy have nead
for it if you have large batteries?

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Kim Inglar

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
Kim Inglar wrote:

Why do you use a capacitor? what is it good for? And do you realy have
nead
for it if you have large batteries?

Waste of money: they're a gimmic. They're no replacement for thicker
cabling or a bigger battery. And if you really find you need a bigger
battery then say goodbye to your hearing - it's too loud already.

Hehe, it´s never too loud. I have just bought 2 RF 1501 (will be linked
with the powerlink cable) and 2 RF 1051. I only have a alternator that
deliveres 70A and one battery on 75A. What should I do then?

Kim

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
Kim Inglar wrote:

Waste of money: they're a gimmic. They're no replacement for thicker
cabling or a bigger battery. And if you really find you need a bigger
battery then say goodbye to your hearing - it's too loud already.

Hehe, it´s never too loud. I have just bought 2 RF 1501 (will be linked
with the powerlink cable) and 2 RF 1051. I only have a alternator that
deliveres 70A and one battery on 75A. What should I do then?

What's an RF 1051? If it's the cap then take it back to the store and
get a refund.

It´s a stereo amplifier. 2*220W 4Ohm. (Rockford Fosgate Power series) The
other one 1501 is a 750 W mono Amplifier.

Kim

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 at 09:57 GMT, Kim Inglar wrote:

Why do you use a capacitor? what is it good for? And do you realy
have nead for it if you have large batteries?

Kim,

I am somewhat new to car audio and never used a capacitor myself.
But I do understand the intended purpose of the large caps hooked to
the power line. When the sub amp goes to hit a note really hard,
the amp is going to need a draw a good bit of current. The battery
and/or alterator might not be able to deliever such a large current
exactly when the amp wants it. The first thing that will happen is
the amp gets the power over other things in the car. The capacitor
stores a bunch of electricity. When the amp needs the extra current
to drive the sub it gets it from the capacitor. At a much slower
rate, the capacitor is recharged from either the battery or
alternator.

Do you need one? Don't know. But I do know that if you are driving
down the road listening to your system and the headlights dim each
time a bass note is hit real hard, then a capacitory might just be
the answer.

It is my understanding that you only need a second battery if you
intend to play your system a lot when the car isn't running. If you
are like me and only listen to the system while driving, the second
battery won't do you any good. If the alternator you have and a
capacitor isn't enough to keep your system going, which I think it
should, you will need a bigger alterator.

Sam

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"Scott M" wrote in message
...
Kim Inglar wrote:

What's an RF 1051? If it's the cap then take it back to the store and
get a refund.

It´s a stereo amplifier. 2*220W 4Ohm. (Rockford Fosgate Power series)
The
other one 1501 is a 750 W mono Amplifier.

Ah, with you. You may want to consider a second battery and a split
charger circuit for that lot, although you'll probably never get near
drawing the full current they could take. A higher spec alternator
mightn't go amiss if you really want to crank it up.

hmm, what is a split charger circuit? I´m norwegian and not that steady in
english

But thanks for all the help so far. It has been really good.

Kim

Neither a capacitor nor a second battery will do anything to help an
alternator keep up with current demand when the engine is running.

A second battery or a higher capacity battery is useful if you want to play
your system for long periods of time with the engine off.

The purpose of a capacitor is to improve the audio quality rather than to
reduce the strain on your electrical system. Judging from the feedback I've
seen, if they do have any effect on the sound quality, it's pretty subtle.

I wouldn't go right out and buy a new alternator just because you're
installing a high power system, however. Your stock alternator may be able
to supply all the current you need for normal use.

"Kim Inglar" wrote in message
...

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
Kim Inglar wrote:

Why do you use a capacitor? what is it good for? And do you realy have
nead
for it if you have large batteries?

Waste of money: they're a gimmic. They're no replacement for thicker
cabling or a bigger battery. And if you really find you need a bigger
battery then say goodbye to your hearing - it's too loud already.

Hehe, it´s never too loud. I have just bought 2 RF 1501 (will be linked
with the powerlink cable) and 2 RF 1051. I only have a alternator that
deliveres 70A and one battery on 75A. What should I do then?

Kim

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
Kim Inglar wrote:

Ah, with you. You may want to consider a second battery and a split
charger circuit for that lot, although you'll probably never get near
drawing the full current they could take. A higher spec alternator
mightn't go amiss if you really want to crank it up.

hmm, what is a split charger circuit? I´m norwegian and not that steady
in
english

They're used in mobile homes and caravans which have fridges and other
gadgets. A second battery is used to run these (when there's no mains
electricity) and connected in so that it can be charged by the
alternator along with the main battery, but it cannot discharge the main
battery (I hope this makes sense!) These are referred to as "split
charger circuits" but I think they consist of a relay or two.

Okay then I know what it is.

Thanks again

"Kim Inglar" wrote in message
...

"KaeZoo" wrote in message
y.com...
Neither a capacitor nor a second battery will do anything to help an
alternator keep up with current demand when the engine is running.

A second battery or a higher capacity battery is useful if you want to
play
your system for long periods of time with the engine off.

The purpose of a capacitor is to improve the audio quality rather than
to
reduce the strain on your electrical system. Judging from the feedback
I've
seen, if they do have any effect on the sound quality, it's pretty
subtle.

I wouldn't go right out and buy a new alternator just because you're
installing a high power system, however. Your stock alternator may be
able
to supply all the current you need for normal use.

I´m not going to play that mutch with the engine off. It´s going to be
used
when I´m driving to work and other locations. But do you think it will be
enough with an alternator that deliveres 70A?

Kim


It depends on whether you drive the system to its full capacity, as well as
what other electrical devices in the vehicle are in use. Just because you
have high-power amplifiers doesn't mean they'll be drawing maximum current
all the time. There's a very good chance that your normal use of the system
won't overtax your alternator. The only way to tell for sure is to try it
out.

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
KaeZoo wrote:

Neither a capacitor nor a second battery will do anything to help an
alternator keep up with current demand when the engine is running.

A second battery will stop you flattening your main one without
realising.


How?


A second battery or a higher capacity battery is useful if you want to
play
your system for long periods of time with the engine off.

True.


The purpose of a capacitor is to improve the audio quality rather than
to
reduce the strain on your electrical system. Judging from the feedback
I've
seen, if they do have any effect on the sound quality, it's pretty
subtle.

Anyone want to buy some magic beans I've got for sale?

What a load of rot. I can only think this stems from a belief that caps
are good for noise removal on power lines. Of course, a 1F lump would be
no use at all for that and amps have great big switched mode step up
PSUs inside them generating shedloads of electical noise which doesn't
seem to affect its operation.


My point was that a capacitor's purpose is NOT to assist the alternator.

In article m, "KaeZoo" wrote:

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
KaeZoo wrote:


My point was that a capacitor's purpose is NOT to assist the alternator.

If the car is running a capacitor will supply or "assist" the alternator, which
also includes, assisting fuses, wiring , connections.

The cap tries to maintain voltage, period.

greg